Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Over the past months I have had requests and inquires about job possibilities in Ticino. I came across this list of International companies in Ticino by the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce and wanted to share this info.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

"One should respect his motherland, his culture and his mother tongue because they are givers of happiness."
Rig Veda

February 21st is International Mother Language Day - a special day recognized by the UN and UNESCO to promote cultural diversity and multilingualism. They also encourage people to maintain their knowledge of their mother language while learning and using more than one language.

Language plays a vital role in relation to identity, communication, social integration, education and development. It is estimated that, without measures to protect and promote minority and endangered languages, half of the 6000 plus languages spoken today will disappear by the end of this century, with 96 percent of these languages spoken by a mere 4 percent of the world’s population.

The theme of the International Mother Language day 2013 is "Mother tongue instruction and inclusive education". This year’s theme refers to the importance of language in accessing quality education and encourages UNESCO member states to promote instruction and education in the mother tongue.

ALL FOR KIDS exists to provide English speaking families with products that encourage learning and inspire creativity while having fun. To celebrate this day they have a special offer IF you order before midnight tomorrow (February 22nd): you'll get 13% off everything (it's 2013, after all) - and if you order 13 items or more, All for kids will even ship for free! Check out their site and don't miss the Bargain Basement section: All for Kids.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

The IWCL (International Womens' Club of Lugano) is happy to invite you to an event at the Swissminituare. Please join them for an afternoon of play and fun. The gathering is focused on families but everybody is welcome.

Get together on Sunday, March 3rd from 14:30 till 17:00 at Swissminiature in Melide.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

You are invited to the 1st International Festival dedicated to Pastry. Yes, that's right. Macaroons and muffin galore and much, much more. Follow the passion for taste and discover new concoctions in this scrumptious industry.

The first edition of the Art & Pastry Festival in Lugano is putting the final touches to the organization of an extensive program of lectures, courses, round-table conferences, workshops and contests.

Maîtres chocolatier, master pastry chefs and cake designers of international renown will let you in on their secret techniques and tell you about trends and evolutions of the trade. It will take place on the weekend of 2nd and 3rd March, and will consist of more than 30 activities.

During the two days of the festival, conferences and courses will alternate with tastings and exhibitions open to the public. Get ready for a show between art and haute cuisine designed for professionals as well as baking fans and the curious.

Monday, February 18, 2013

Been living in Ticino for a while? Just haven't got around to learning Italian? Feel like improving your grammar? Need some conversation practice? Now is your chance. The city of Lugano proposes Italian classes to all foreigners at the modest cost of CHF 70. -/semester.

The purpose of these courses offered by "Il Centro" is to achieve a better integration in society through learning and studying the Italian language.

The association "Il Centro" further offers intensive courses of Italian language for foreigners every year from February to June for beginners as well as advanced levels.

The duration of an intensive course is one week from Monday to Friday from 9:30 to 11:30 and 13:45 to 15:45. The exact dates of the courses will be announced shortly. The cost is CHF 70.-/week.

To participate, write to: ilcentro@bluewin.ch specifying in the "Learn Italian for foreigners" or call them at 091 970 31 26.

Or just pop down to the "Associazione Il Centro" in Via Brentani 5, 6900 Lugano on Wednesday, February 20th, 2013 where an information session will be offered from 17.00 to 18.00.

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Feeling homesick? In search of some comfort food? Fancy that dish from back home? My Expat Shop solves all your whims and cravings.

From Vegemite to Betty Crocker butter cream icing. From Peri-Peri to Cajun Sauce. From real pork sausages to Ella's kitchen smoothies. From Twiglets to PG Tips. All at the tip of your fingers via e-shopping.

MyExpatshop is the British Food Online Shop delivering over 600 of your favourite British food products to your home in Switzerland.

Fresh products are shipped Monday through Wednesday only so that your order will arrive before the weekend.
For over 5 years, MyExpatShop has followed their basic principles by providing a wide and varied choice or products and first class service.

They have worked to bring you those hard to find items at the best price. Real English Bacon, high quality British Cheeses such as Extra Mature Vintage Cheddar and Christmas Crackers are just part of the growing list.

You can pay either at the time of placing your order, or when your order is delivered to by you using the Swiss Post Office Giro (pink payment slip) that is included in the package.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."
Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

The Lorax is a 2012 American computer-animated 3D musical comedy film based on Dr. Seuss' children's book of the same name. In this story a 12-year-old boy searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world.

If you are a fan of Dr.Seuss this is a definite must, although the showing will be in Italian. However, the entrance is free since it is sponsored by the City of Lugano (Dept of Youth and Event).

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Now that I have recuperated from my very late Sunday night - yes, I did stay up half the night to watch the Super Bowl - I thought I'd share my two favourite ads with you.

In case anyone doubted the popularity of the Super Bowl, let this Twitter stat stand out to you: during the game, 26,131,270 million tweets were sent out about it. More women were tweeting about the game than men. 51.54% of the tweets came from women during the game. People liked to tweet about the ads. 16% of the total tweets about the Super Bowl – that’s over 4 million tweets – were about the ads.

At an average cost of $3.8 million per 30-second spot, I don't know which companies scored season-winning touchdowns but these two really made me smile.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

“What if Alexander Graham Bell's name were Alexander Graham Siren? The phone wouldn't ring, it would GO OFF!! EERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!! HELLO! HELLO!!”
George Carlin

So we all know that the Swiss are extremly cautious citizens. They have the right protection for every possible situtation. The prejudice that Switzerland is a country of insurance is absolutely true. The avereage Swiss household (2,23 persons) will spend approx. CHF 1700.-/month for mandatory insurance, including health insurance and contributions to social security or else CHF 20,400.- per year.
Did you know, however, that more than CHF 50 billion are spent each year for non-compulsory insurance, that's CHF 6588.- per head.

But it doesn't stop there.

Be prepared because on February 6th, 2013 the annual test of the sirens will be held in Switzerland between 13:30 and 15:00. 8500 mobile and stationary civil-defense sirens which can alert 99% of the population, will be tested. Sirens for this alert have a regularly ascending and descending tone lasting a minute and repeated after a two-minute interval. Following that, the 700 water alarms, will resonate twelve low sounds lasting 20 seconds each between 14.15 and 15.00 in downstream areas of dams.

Every year, on the first Wednesday of February, Switzerland's sirens are tested. During this test, general alert sirens as well as the sirens near dams are tested to see if they are in working order. The population is informed of the test days ahead by radio, television, teletext and newspapers. The siren tests do not require the population to take any special measures.

Introduced during wartime, they are now used to alert the population to impending catastrophes or water dangers such as flooding. The population is instructed to inform those around them to proceed inside. Once inside, people are instructed to listen to emergency broadcasts made by the Swiss Radio and/or TV.

The two Swiss products I ALWAYS export, no matter where in the world we live, are Champions' Birchermüsli and Cailler dark chocolate. I would add Luxemburgerli and Cervelat saugages but they don't travel well.

With Valentine's Day coming up Cailler are launching their yearly chocolate treat: create an e-chocolate card and send it to your sweetheart. You'll automatically enter the Valentine's Day competition and could win a course for 2 at the Atelier du Chocolat, and a selection of Frigor tablets.

While you wait for the big day, you are only a click away of some of the most scrumptious chocolate recipes: www.cailler.ch/en/recipes.

Even better, if you happen to travel passed Broc near Gruyère why not stop for a tour of the Maison Cailler. Your kids can register for the “Future chocolatiers” workshop, where young confectioners can choose their ingredients and their favourite mould, then decorate their creation however they wish. And, afterwards, they can take it home to enjoy themselves or to give as a present.

Monday, February 4, 2013

The definition of Carnival: A festival celebrated with merriment and revelry in Roman Catholic countries during the week before Lent, during a few days (three to ten) before Lent, ending with Shrove Tuesday. Any merrymaking, feasting, or masquerading, especially when overstepping the bounds of decorum; a time of riotous excess.

Carnevale in Ticino is as big a deal as it is in Basel just that nobody knows about it! That is if you don't live in the Ticino. We don't have skiing holidays like the rest of Switzerland, we have Vacanze di Carnevale .... eventough everybody goes skiing!!!

Bellinzona's carnival is Ticino's most famous celebration. Following the Roman-rite, the party starts on Thursday night when the keys of the city are handed over to King Rabadan, who will rule the happy crowds until the following Tuesday. This year the Rabadan Carnival celebrates its 150th Anniversary: don't miss it. But not only Rabadan: many more carnivals are warming up the cold winter days in the Canton.

In Locarno, the "Stranociada" is an appointment not to be missed on Friday night, where the old town is invaded by masks, little tents, Guggen, music and pure fun until early in the morning.

The Nebiopoli Carnival in Chiasso is the most important Roman-rite carnival in the Sottoceneri region, and its peculiarity is the absence of a king: in fact, the hand-over of power during the carnival goes to a Prime Minister, who transforms the town into the "Free Republic of Nebiopoli"'. During the "republican week", masked groups and Guggen transform the streets of the centre into a place where fun rules. The peak of the celebrations is Mardi Gras Nebiopoli masked parade, featuring large numbers of floats, groups, bands and Guggenmusik.

In many different locations throughout the Canton, celebrations take place only at the end of the Carnevale week, following the Ambrosian rite. Biasca, Brissago and Tesserete can pride themselves with some of the busiest Carnivals, with their Saturday parades featuring masked groups, floats and Guggen music bands. The large masked parties in public spaces all over the town centres start on Thursday night, with games, free risotto for everybody, many confetti and bands performing live music. A wild world of colors, masks and sounds, eventually winding down only on Sunday morning.

Followers

Globetrotting

The Mom song

Cheap flights

Voice Recognition Elevator

La leçon de géographie

Things I've learned from my children:

Always look in the oven before you turn it on. Plastic toys do not like ovens.

The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earth worms dizzy. It will, however, make cats dizzy.

Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.

Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.

Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.

No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.

Pool filters do not like Jell-O.

Super glue is forever.

Play Dough and Microwave should never be used in the same sentence.

Certain LEGOs will pass through the digestive Tract of a four year old.

A six year old can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36 year old man says they can only do it in the movies. A magnifying glass can start a fire, even on an overcast day.

Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.

When you hear the toilet flush and the words "Uh-oh," it's already too late.

You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using the ceiling fan as a bat, you Have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.

The glass in windows (even double pane) doesn't Stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.

A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. foot house 4 inches deep.

If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.

If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the Motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound boy wearing Batman underwear and a superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20 by 20 foot room.